Cover of Bike Corrals: Local Business Impacts, Benefits, and Attitudes. -Download PDF-

A preliminary study of Portland's on-street bike parking corrals
shows they've got widespread support from nearby business owners. The
report also found that business owners perceive one out of every four
of their customers arrive by bike.

Meisel heard from 44 businesses (our of 132 he surveyed) that
operate within one half-block of Portland's many on-street bike corrals
(the number of which has grown from one in 2004 to nearly 50 today).
The study included an online survey along with empirical analysis of
each corral's location.

The results of the survey showed that businesses perceived on
average that 24.8% of their total customer base arrive on bicycles.
More than 2/3 said that both the rate of bike-riding customers and the
demand for bike parking has risen over time.

One question on the survey asked businesses whether they agreed or
disagreed that the presence of the bike corral enhanced the "street and
neighborhood identity." Meisel reports that a whopping 84 percent
strongly agreed or agreed that "bike corrals enhance the street and
neighborhood for residents and patrons."

"This perception of an enhanced street identity is very
important because many local businesses rely on a dynamic shopping
environment to attract customers—that the bike corrals play a part in
creating this atmosphere..."

The results of the survey indicate widespread local business support for the corrals with few exceptions. -- From the study's abstract

Meisel says businesses who took the survey noted three key benefits
to the bike corrals: an increase in the number of customers; an
improved sidewalk/cafe seating environment; and improved visibility of
the business from the street.

This is a good first step in gathering data on the impact of bike
corrals both to parking congestion and business, but Meisel
acknowledges that more in-depth research is needed.